Type-writer.



G. W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED JUNBJ'I, 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SHEETSSHEET 1.

N701? 702mg Gfwgew er.- w. DUNNING;

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[N E/VfOR Qwrgewj aizizzizg I omey G. w. DONNING. TYPE WRITER.

' APPLIOQTIONPILED JUNE 17, 1901. I 93 1,689. Patented Aug. ,17, 1909.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WIT 5555;

VENTOR 6 :9614; aiming G. W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER. .APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 4 G. w. YDONINING.

T YPE WRITER. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE l7 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SHEETSSHEET 5.

I auoawtoz wi/hma v: I W2" 4 G. W. DONNINGi TYPE WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1903.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

1 m N W m 6 a Z w.

G, W. DONNING. TYPE WRITER.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1901. '931,689. Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SEEETS-SHEET 7.

Illlllllllllll I111 G. W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901.

Patented Aug..17, 1909.

15 SHE,ETS-SHEET 8.

IHUII 2 :11:11 nun m rg/ V W III/ll G. W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901,

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15SHEETS-SHEET 9.

' Willi 11L] G. W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901. Patented Aug. 17,1909. 15 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

G. 'W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901.

Patented Aug..17, 1909.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

& [NVE/VTOR DA W} Z I l n m a ll W a 4 U G. W. DONNING. TYPE WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

I WITNESSES.-

G. W. DONNING.

TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909;

15 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

6 292 MUM G. W. DONNING.

'TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION IILBD mm: 11, 1901.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909. v v I '15 snnms-snm 14.

5 6 I all III-A minimum;

G. W. DONNING. TYPE WRITER.

- APPLICATION FLED JUNE 17, 1901. 931,689. I

5 anaemic-n GeavgeWB 0mm 11%,

9X ease:

Patented Aug. 11 1909.

GEORGE W. DONNING, OF EAST oingnen, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro HARRY r. AMBROSE, or URANGE, NEW

TYPE-WRITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

Application filed June 17', 1901. Serial No. 6,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it k own that I, Gnonon lVvDormxo, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new iind useful Improvements in Type- Writers; and I do hereby declare'the following to he a full, clear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to typewriting machines and, more particularly, to that class thereof now known. in the art as flat platen and hook -typewriters.

The object to produce a typewriting machine of said class wherein the parts shall be combined in compact and convenientlymanipulated form; furthermore, to produce a typewriter wherein the several operating parts shall be conveniently disposed to facilitate their rapid manipulation; furthermore, to provide said machine with its key-board and other operating parts so arranged and positioned as to leave a clear and unobstructed view, not only of the printingpoint, but, as well, of the printing-field across. the work-sheet being written upon, thus presenting, in the strict sense, a visiblewriting machine; furthermore, to provide, in connection with the writing-mechanism of such a machine, a book-support, constructed to be easily moved vertically, longitudinally and transversely, and having combined therewith the required means for positioning the same, whereby the hook to be written upon may quickly be brought into proper operating relation with the writingmechanism; and, finally, to produce a machine wherein manifolding-eopies may be readily produced without necessity of fre-' quent insertion of the work-sheets, the same being combined with means'for maintaining said sheets in proper operative position.

The invention resides in various novel constructions and combinations and arrange ments of parts, as-will hereinafter he more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated some embodiments of my invention; it being understood, however, that theconstrnctions therein iilustreted and hereinafter described may hoveriously modifier. and changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one form of embodiment of my typewriter, and illustrating; particularly, in connection with a platen a1ul'a. iesl provided with a depression in its top portion, a longitudinally-movablc frame upon'which a luterally-travcling book-support is sustained and which is arranged, also, for vertical movement to -facilitate the positioning of books of dill'erent thicknesses; Fig. view of the same, in vertical transverse section, on the line 2-42, Fig. 1; certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearncss; Fig. 3 is view oi" the same in vertical, loi'igitudinah section, some parts being omitted; Fig. 4t view in perspective, exhibiting aanodificd form of book-typewriter and a flat-platen device'disposed on a desk, the top-pdrtion whereof is provided with a depression (the same as in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3) in which is disposed a vertically-adjustablehut non-slidable, book-support, to which is connected means for adjusting the book to the requisite levels for e'll'ecting proper work; and showing, also, the letter-spacing or transversely traveling writing mecha nismcarriage, and the line-spacing or longitudinally traveling carriage which supports said letter-spacing-carriage; Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section thereof through the book-support and its. adjusting-mechanism; Fig. 6 is-a detached detail view, exhibiting one form of mechanism by which the booksupport may be raised or lowered; Fig. '7 is a view in plan, exhibiting still another form of book-support, the same having no lateral movement, but capable of being shifted longitudinally of its overlying platen, and, also, adjusted vertically; showing also, the means for elevating the book-support, and, also, in dotted lines, the device for imparting movementto the booksupport longitudinally of the platen to change the position of the book intermediate of the regular spacing of the writing-mechanism; Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation thereof, partly in section, the overlyingplaten being omitted; Fig. 9 is a view in transverse section, taken on the line 9-9, FW. 7 F1 3 10 is a'similar view taken on the line 10-10 Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a detail.

view, in perspective, of a part of the longitudmajlly-adgnsting device of the book-support shown in Figs. 7 to it Fig. 12 is a consisting of the laterally-traveling book- -iting the general-carriagc-release median- .which the step-by-stcp, longitudinal movement of the carriage for l1ne=spac1ng may partly in section, exhibiting the propellingother particular line; Fig.

a modification of the v1ew in perspective, of the platen illpstrated the transverse or letter spacing carriage, 1n Fig l, the same being detached from the looking from the rear, and, in part, of the typewrlter-desk more clearly to illustrate line-Spacing-carriage; and showing, more the carbon-carrying. spindles and scale-departicularly, the carriage-propelling and esvices disposed thereon; Fig. 13 is a similar capement-inechanism of the line-spacingview with thecarbon-element overlying the carriage; Fig. 32 is a fragmentary view, in platen and a combined clamping cut-off rear elevatidn of the structure disclosed in member above end of the platen; Fig. 14 is Fig. 28; Fig. 33 is a detail view in elevation, also a view of the platen of Fig. l, exhihi'tpartly in section, of themeehanism' of Fig. rug more clearly the work-confining-band 2S; and Fig. 34 is a View of a modification overlying and movable over the platen; Fig. exhibiting variable spacing me 15 is a view in perspective, of still another the line-spacing-carriage. modified form of book-supporting structure,

In describing this invention, the parts how to be discussed will include the book-support rest provided with two leaves yieldingly and its adiusting-mechanism (includingdifsupported; Fig. 16 is a view in front elevai tion of the letter-spacing, transversely-travcling-carriage or writing-niechanism, which supports the type-bars, ribbon-mechanism, etc; Fig. 17' a view in plan thereof; Fig. 18 is a view in rear elevation thereof; Fig. 19 is a view in side elevation. of the same; Fig. 20 is a detached view, in plan, exhibitin assembled form, the mechanism for eii'ecting spacing of the letter-spaeing-carriage; Fig. 21 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the connection between operating key-levers and the lettermechanism for adjusting the supports vertically, transversely and longitudinallythe first to position the book at the proper horizontal plane and the second and third to position the book under the writing-mechanism, which is, likewise, capable of being positioned relative to the book; also, platens, clamping-devices and manifolding devices (whichma be used in connection therewith, or without necessarily simultaneous ear ployment thereof); also, the letter-spacing and line-spacing carriages and their operating mechanism; and, finally, a line-finder and lettei poiiiter which is carried by the writing-mechanism-carriage.

' Referring to the drawings an,d,"particu- 'larly, to Figs. l-to 3, A designates a table, which, as shown, may constitute the top of a desk, or be an ordinary typewriter table.

spacing ineehanisiifiTFig. 22 is a detail view, in plan, exhibiting particularly, the con-l struction of the adjustable-speed device of the letter-s acing or carriage-escapement-; Fig. 23 is detail view, in elevation (and partly in section), of the device of Fig. 22; Fig. is an ei'ilarged view, in plan, exhibtable is, preferably, opening or longitudinal depression 2. At each end of the longitudinal depression 2 is a supporting guide-piece or track 3. A rec-- tangular frame or carriage 4-, provided with rollers or Wheels 5 of width less than the width of the depression 2, is arranged to travel on the guide-piece 3. One edge of the frame 4 is provided With a rack-bar 6, in which meshes a gear-Wheel 7, suitably supported on a shaft 8. On said shaft isalso arrai'lged a ratchet-wheel 9, which is designed to be engaged by a palle,t l0, pivoted on a lever 11, the lever being pivoted, at its rear end, at any desired point on the guidepiece 3, and has its forward end orhandle 12 extending out beyond the front of the table A. 'Arranged contiguous to the handle is a plate 13 provided with a plurality of perforations 14, designed to receive a pin 1'5. A

ism by which the dog for controlling the transverse, step-by-step movement of the letter-spacing-carriage may be released from engagement with its escape-wheel to permitfree travel of the carriage transversely of the platen, in either direction; Fig. 25 is a view in side elevation of the same; Fig. 26 is a view in rear elevation, exhibiting the carriage-supporting-framc or line-spacingcarriage, and a part of the mechanism by be effected; F 27 is a view in elevation,

mechanism for imparting a longitudinal or forward step-by-step movement to the linespacing-carriage; Fig. 28 is a VlW in elevation of the form of line-spacing-device illustrated in Fig. 26 and of. the totalor generalrelease-key by which the linc-spacing-carriage may be spaced, and, also, freely moved longitudinally of the platen in its entire traveling distance, when desired, and permit and, also, at any suitable point on the table. the writmg-mechanism to be brought to an- Itis obvious that, when the lever is moved, it will, by means of the pawl and ratchet, already described, rotate the gear-wheel 7 and 2.) is a longituefi ect movement of the frame 4. The perd-inal sectional view, taken on the line :v-ae. Fig. 28; Fig. 30isa detached, detail viewof forated plate 13 affords means for limiting escape-dog shown in the movement a view in perspective of 1 (i withdraws the lever to nernmlnrposition;

Fig. 28; Fig. 31 56 chanism for The central portion of the top of the desk orcut out to present an ferent forms of book-supports); als'o the retractilespring 16 is connected to the lever tudinal movement.

upper central portion of the table is, preferafter it is operated. A second or laterallymovable frame or carriage 17, of Width and length somewhat less than the width and length, respectively, of the frame at, is provided with rollers 18, designed to traverse traclrrails l9 formedon the movable frame l. Connecting with the side members of the laterally-movable frame 17 is a brace 20 (Figs. 1 and 3), which'afi'ords a support for a tubular member 21, into which is threaded a spindle 22, the upper portion of which ca ries a handovheel 28. The upper extremity of the spindle 22 is socketed into a bifurcated standard 24. Pivoted, centrally, in this bifurcated standard 2% is a rocking or equalizing-lei er 25, the outer ends of which are provided with knuckles 26, upon which are arranged booksupporting leaves or plates 27, these leaves serving as a rest for the sides of a book.

By the arrangement, above described, I am enabled to facilitate the positioning of a book, since the same may be moved back and forth (relative to the operator) by means of the lever 11; also from right to left by means of the laterally-travelingcarriage 17; and, also, elevated and depressed by means of the hand-wheel 23 and its adjunctive parts.

It is to be understood, of course, that othci mechanisms for efi ecting movement of the longitudinally-movable and laterallytraveli-ng carriages, as well, for elevating the book-support vertically, may be employed to meet the exigencies of practical employment of the device. The laterally-traveling carriage or book-support facilitates the shifting of the book from one side to the other, in the course of the writing up thereof.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown a modified form of device for eiiecting vertical movement of the book-support, which, in this in stance, is not arranged for lateral or longi- In this structure, the

ably, cut out to present an opening or longitudinal depression a, Figs. l and 5, beneath which, in line with the walls thereof, may if desired. be mounted a book-suppert B, comprising, in this instance, a plurality of leaves or surfaces 3), (though there may be only a single leaf) preferably flat, upon which the sides of the book to be Written upon will rest, and being pr ferablyseparated or spaced aparta distance suliicient for positioning the-binding-portion of the book (Figs. 2 and On the under-side, preferably, of each leaf 5 is a socket/b in which fits a knuckle (indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 8), the knuckles be ng carried by a pivoted or equalizing lever 25* pi-votally supported on standard Z the upper end'of which may be. bifurcated, (or

-' be Inoi'ided with a head) between the me n? bers of which bifurcated portion the lever rocks. The standard is preferably mounted for vertical movement in a tubular guide Z), which, by preference, is supported beneath the table by a brace-rod 6 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. i and shown in full lines in Fig. 6); The standard may have formed on its side a rack-face I), to be engaged by a pinion 7), carried by a transverse shaft Z), suitably journaled, and carrying on its outer end, preferably, 'a hand-Wheel Z) t and The tubular guide i) is slotted to permit engagement of the pinion with the raclr on the standard. By rotation of the hand-wheel Z) and, thus, the pinion, the standard will be raised or lowered, (as will be readily understood by refcrenceto Figs. 5 and G) for adjusting the book-support vertically relative to an overlying platen. To guide the book-support during its vertical adjustment and to prevent lateral play, verticallyisposed angle-irons b (Fig. 5) may be provided at the four cor-- ners of the tabletop.

In Figs. 7 to 11, I have shown a form of book-support embodying the elevating means of Figs. 1 to 3, with a form of device not illustrated in the preceding figures for producing longitudinal movement, the booksupport, in this instance, not being adapted for lateral movement. According to this construction, I may thread the standard and the tubular guide Z), and dispose, on the upper portion of the standard, a hand-Wheel b. When this form of adjusting-mechanism is employed, the upper end of the standard will preferably be loosely socketed in the head 5, on which will be pivoted the equalizing lever f, so that rotation of the hand-Wheel will cause the standard If to operate to adjust the book-support vertically, without of course turning it. The book-support of this last described construction is also capable of movement in a horizontal plane; and, th this end, the tubular support Z) may be supported by a plate 1) (shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, it and 11), on one edge of which is formed a rack 1 the function of which will appear farther on. The plate 3 preferably rests upon and is guided by parallel strips b said strips being arranged sutiicientl below the plane of the leaves I) not to interfere with the vertical movement of the same, and being supported at the front and rear on transverse strips 15*, 15 (Figs. 8 and 10). By this arrangement, therefore, the book-support, comprising the two leaves, the equalizing-lever etc., may, in addition to its vertical adjustment, be capahle of longitudinal. adjustment with relation to the platen; in case an entry is to be made upon a page of a book that has already been written upon, and it is desired to re-insert this page for the purpose of 4 matter, or for correcting mistakes, the longitudinally-movable device of the bookssupport sho. 'u in Figs. 7 to 11 or any other proper form of device, may be employed, and then positionin of the Work sheet without necessity of e ecting operation of the regular line-spacing device hereafter to be described may be effected; or, when the book has not been properly posiwritine additional tinned on the book-support and the operator,"

then, is unable to position the page of the book in'the correct position, on the platen with especial reference to the regular-linespacing of the writinganechanism, a fine ad.- justment of the bool-z and its page can be etiected relative to the platen and thewritingonechanism.

The mljusting-device (as shown in Figs. 7 and 10) for moving the book-simport longitudinally, preferably czmipriscs a lever 6 fulcruuicd, at its rear end, on the transverse strip 15", and. carrying a pawl ii-F, to engage a pinion 7 carried by one end of a shaft 6 supported by a bracket formed on the strip 72", the other end of which can ries a pinion 7) to engage with the rack 71*" (already referred to formed on the under side of the plate b. It will be seen by this arrangement that, by operating the lever Z), the pinion 5 (through the medium of the pawl 7)) will be rotated, thereby turning the pinion if, which, in turn, will move the plate 0 and with it the book-support and its book, thus enabling the bringing of any desired line on the book under the striking-point of the type without changing the position of the Writing-mechanism. To regulate the throw of the lever, and make me, I may provide a segmental plate I), having a plurality of openings 1) therein, preferably so spaced apart that during the swing of the lever between any two adjacent OPQHlHgS, the pawl 6 Will engage the pin-' ion 3) to rotate the shaft 7) sutliciently to move the book-support longitudinally a distance equal to the one-half splicing of theordii'iary typewriter. In this instance, I have four of these openingstthree of which are shown) ;'so that, should it be desired to move a book or sheet a distance equal to one-half space, the lever would be moved from the first or highest opening to the next one; it a full space, to a third opening; it a spare and a hall", to the fourth one; and so on, as may be desired. To stop the lever at the desired adjustment. :1 pin 7) (Fig. 10) may be provided, which will be inserted in one of the openings.

The lever may be returned to its normal 4 position after each operation by a spring b, the dog if, in this movement of the lever, merely sh ppmg over the pinion without moving the book-support. lt'is to be understood that this mechanism for posi- 11t accord with the spacing of the written 40 tioning the book-support longitudinally may also be utilized in lieu of the regular lIDQ -SPHCIUg of the writing-mcchanism, herenai'tcr described. When the l ool adjustmg device is operated in connection with this line-spacing mechanism, I may position the book or the page to present the printing point thereon intern'iediate of the regul: r line, in which event it is not sary to throw the lever 7) the full distance from one opening to another, the described mechanism will effect positioning of the printing-point on the book between the points of any two of the openings. It is to be understood that, by sin'zply reversing the direction ot the opening a. in the table-top and employing thesame actuatiuganochanism as that just described, this hook-support may be given a movement transverse oi the platen. In any lateral adjustment of the booksupport, it is to be understood, ot' course 1 that the platen (by reason of being laterally slidable, as hereafter described) may he moved to correspond in position with the book-suppm't. The book-support may be constructed, also, to have tree transvers l3]t1'i-'i).l, without longitudinal movement thereof, and this construction, I have illustrated, as a modified form of arrangement in Fig. 15. In order that'it may be shifted laterally, 2., from one side of the table to the other, to change the position of the .page of the book to be written upon, I pro vidc in the table a. transverse depression A 15), in which a rectangular carriage A (provided, adjacent its corners, with rollers A may travel, said rollers being designed to traverse the floor of the glepres sion, or suitable tr: cks or guides arranged therein, as is obvious. Supported above the ,said carriage A, as by the springs A the bookieaves 2 already mentioned, the said springs serving to give a yieldin surface for the hook, and, also, to cause the same to be pressed up and againstthe underside of the platen b". Uverlying the book-rest, is a list writing-surface or platen 7)", which may either be a single one, as shown in Fig. 15, or a plurality, as shown in l igs. l, 02, say. It is to be lllldQl'ELQOll that, by having the platen sulticiently narrow this will permit the tracks c to be raised independent thereof. 'lhereiore, I am enabled to use sheets of writing material larger than the platen, it necessary, and move them into the proper printing position, from i time to time, without danger of tearing or I creasing the same during the raising or lowering ot the tracks. Besides this, the opert ator enabled to write close to the edge oi l the sheet. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the tracks 0, in the form of striketure illustrated in Figs. 1. and 4, are indel pendent of the platen and do not rest there-v eaneea on, the horizontal plane of the tracks is not alfected if several sheets of paper or cardboard are placed upon the platen. In other words, in some of the fiat-platen machines now on the market, the tracks or trackframe normally rest upon the upper surface of the platen and are frequently used to retain the work in position thereon.

It is obvious that, if the work-sheets and card-board are of any appreciable thick ness and are of width less than the distance between the track-rails or side-bar of the track-rails, if-said work-sheets or card-board are placed under only one of the traek rails or side-bars of the track-frame, the other rail or side-bar will be nnsupported and re main suspended; and furthermore, the weight of the writing-mechanisin will naturally depress this unsupported rail or sidebar and effect the alinen'ient of the machine.- buch an objection does not obtain in construction of Figs. 1 to 4: as is obvious, because the tracks are not utilized to hold the work.

It is to be understood, of course, that where the tracks do not rest upon the platen it is not essential to the proper operation of my machine that the platen shall occupy an exactly horizontal plane, as it may be inclined in position and yet be within the scope of my invention.

It is preferred to support the rear of the platen so that the same may be tilted away from the boolnrest, either on a hinge 6 as shown in Fig. 11-); or the platen may carry, at its rear edge, an extension If, which is designed to engage and slide on a rotatable split-tube I) provided with pintles b, journaled in standards 7) on the top of the desk or table (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The platen may however, not be hinged, but may lie flatly upon the table-top and be secured in any desirable manner.

It is obvious that, as stated, I may employ one platen, or two, as the exigencies may require, and it is likewise obvious that one or both platens may bensed with the mova le book-rest or not. Of course, where necessary. the platen or platens are arranged with relation to the typewriter-carriage, which would be supported, relatively, at a predetermined height above the table, it being understood that the book-rest is movable relative to the platen and writing-mech anism wherever the platen and writinginechanisn'l are stationarily supported relalire to the table-top.

, Arranged contiguous to the edge of the platen I)", (either independent thereof, as shown in l i'gs'. 1 to 5, or adapted to contact therewith, as shown in Fig. are trackrails or guides 0, upon which the writinginechanism (hereinafter described) travels for line-spacing.

7 Where two platens are used, the book-support herein described and shown may be stationary and not be slidable as hereinbe fore described and shown. The purpose of arranging the platen to have a sliding movement upon the split tube 6 is to facilitate a slight lateral adjustment thereof and to secure the book-pages atthe binding-edge.

In the lateral adjustment of the book-support, it is to be understood, that, in some instances, only one platen will be employed, thereby reducing the space between the tracks and the width of the writing-mechanism-carriage (hereinafter described) as shown in Fig. 15. The tracks and platen, in this particular arrangement, would be for tilting only and the platen would have no lateral adjustment. In another arrangement, where th lateral adjustment of the book-support is used, the two latens may be employed so that two pages of an open book may be adjusted with each manipulation of the necessary parts. In this instance, a fine lateral adjustment of the book, and not of which takes place as the leaves are being turned from time to time.

By employing the sliding-book-support, as heretofore described, and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I am enabled to move the work transversely and longitudinally, that is, cross-wise of the platen and lengthwise thereof, and also vertically, that is up and down.

As shown in Fig. l, the platen is suitably fulcrumed or pivoted so that it may be tilted. Moreover, by being mounted in the slots at the pivot-edge, it is, thus, slidable horizon tally, and this enables the operator to insert page beneath the platen, and then, by sliding-the platen back to its original position and turning the leaf down upon the platen, the same result accrues as though. the platen were raised vertically. By being pivoted at a point in advance of the rearmost position of the writing-mechanism it is possible to tilt the platen without its striking the writing-mechanism.

To limit the backward tilt of the platen, steps 72 formed on the standards b (Figs. 2 and 4) or other means may be employed. On the front edge of the platen or platens is preferably a-latch 71 to pass through openings provided in the table-top and to engage a spring-pressed rod 7), to which is connected a push-bar b projecting outward from the front of the table, as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen the platen is down, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, the latch engages with the rod 6 so that the platen is firmly held in position over the book to be written upon. To release the platen, the bar I) is pushed in.

It is to be understood that I do not limit the platens, is necessary owing to the creep myself to the latches, spring-pressed rod. and 

